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PRINCETON,     N.    J 


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Divisici: 
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Number. 


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MINUTE  S 


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PITTSBURGH     COIVVEIVTIOIV 


CALLED     BY 


THE    SIGNERS    OF    THE 


a  A  r*  ft^ 


ACT    Ai\l*     TESTIIflOAl." 


MAY  14,   18S5. 


-~neffi«<»— 


PITTSBURGH: 
WHITE    &.    GRANT,    PRINTERS. 

1835. 


MINUTES. 


Thursday,  May  14,  1835. 

The  Convention  recommended  by  the  signers  of  the  "Act  and 
Testimony,"  issued  by  the  minority  of  the  last  General  Assembly,  in 
concert  with  others,  met,  in  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
city  of  Pittsburgh,  at  12  o'clock,  M. 

The  Rev.  JOHN  VVITHERSPOON  was  called  to  the  Chair, 
and  the  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Alexander 
were  appointed  Secretaries,  pro  tem. 

The  following  named  persons  presented  certificates,  or  other  satis- 
factory evidence  of  appointment  by  their  Presbyteries,  and  took  their 
seats  as  members  of  the  Convention,  viz: 


PRESBYTERIES. 

Neio  York, 

Neivton, 
Susquehanna, 
NciD  Castle, 

. :« 

Norlhumberlojid, 

u 

Huntingdon, 
Beaver, 

Redstone, 
Steiihenvillc, 

WasJiviglon, 
Ohio, 

a 

Richland, 

Miami, 

Oxford, 
Lancaster, 

Madison, 

Kaslcasldn, 

Louisville, 

cc 

South  Carolina., 


Rev.  W.  W.  Philips,  D.  D. 
Elder  James  Lenox,  Jr. 
Rev.  George  Junkin,  D.  D. 
Rev.  Jas.  C.  Sharon. 
Rev.  Jas.  Magraw. 
Elder  Jas.  Wilson. 
Rev.  John  H.  Grier. 
Elder  Andrew  Ferguson. 
Rev.  John  Hutcheson. 
Rev.  Thos.  E.  Hughes,  Sr. 
Elder  John  Clark. 
Rev.  Ashbel  G.  Fairchild. 
Rev.  John  Rea. 
Elder  Matthew  M'Coy. 
Rev.  Jas.  Hervey. 
Rev.  Thos.  D.  Baird. 
Elder  Dr.  Robert  Wray. 
Rev.  Wm.  Hughes. 
Elder  John  Ewalt. 
Rev.  Jas.  Coe. 
Elder  E.  Burrows. 
Rev.  Thos.  E.  Hughes,  Jr. 
Rev.  Jas.  Culbcrlson. 
Elder  John  Thompson. 
Rev.  James  Blythe,  D.  D. 
Rev.  John  Matthews. 
Rev.  N.  L.  Rice. 
Elder  John  Carr. 
Rev.  Huffh  Dixon. 


(     4     ) 

Harmony,  T^(-'v.  John  Withcrspooa, 

Tuscaloosa,  Rev.  Joseph  B.  Adams. 

Amite,  Rev.  John  L.  Montgomery. 

The  following  persons  also  appeared,  and  presented  certiiicates,  ov 
other  satisfactory  evidence  of  their  appointment  as  delegates  by  the 
niinoritics  of  the  several  Presbyteries  to  which  they  belong,  and  took 
their  scats  as  members  of  the  Convention. 

rjlESBYERTIKS. 

New  Bnmsu'ick,  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown. 

Gcnesscc,  Rev.  Alex.  Denoon. 

"  Elder  John  MThcrson. 

Eric,  Rev.  Johnston  Eaton. 

Portage,  Rev.  John  D.  Hughes. 

Cincinnati,  Rev.  Joshua  L.  Wilson. 

"  Elder  Wm.  Schillenger. 

South  Alahama,  Rev.  Thos.  Alexander. 

Sale?n,  Rev.  Alex.  Williamson. 

The  Rev.  James  Blythe,  D.  D.,  was  requested  to  preach  at  3 
o'clock,  P.  M.;  and  the  Convention  resolved  on  a  recess  until  after  the 
close  of  ^ivine  service. 

At  half  after  4  the  Convention  resumed  business. 
In  addition  to  those  whose  names  have  already  been  recorded,  the 
following  persons  appeared,  and,  having  presented  certificates  of  their 
appointment  by  the  Presbyteries   to  which   they  belong,  took  their 
seats  in  the  Convention. 

PRESBYTERIES. 

Carlisle,  Rev.  John  Moody. 

"  '  Elder  Robert  Elliott- 

Blair sihUc,  Rev.  Francis  Laird. 

"  Elder  Jas.  Carothers. 

Wooslcr,  Rev.  James  Snodgrass. 

The  Rev.  Alex.  D.  Campbell,  also,  having  produced  satisfactory 
evidence  of  his  appointment  by  the  minority  of  the  Presbytery  of  the 
Western  District,  took  his  seat  in  the  Convention. 

On  motion.  Resolved,  That  this  Convention  adopt  the  "General 
Rules"  usually  observed  by  our  church  judicatories,  and  printed  in 
the  Book  of  Discipline,  as  the  rules  by  which  the  proceedings  of  this 
Convention  shall  be  regulated,  so  far  as  those  rules  may  be  applicable 
to  this  house. 

The  Convention  proceeded  to  the  appointment  of  its  permanent 
officers;  and  ASHBEL  GREEN,  D.  D.,  was  appointed  President, 
the  Rev.  John  Witiierspoon,  Vice-President,  and  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
James  Culhertson  and  Ashhel  G.  Fairchild,  Secretaries. 

On  motion.  Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Convention  will 
spend  to-morrow  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation,  and  prayer,  with 
especial  reference  to  the  objects  for  which  they  are  assembled;  and 
that  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Brown  and  Baird,  and  Mr.  William  Schillenger 
Elder,  be  a  committee,  in  conjunction  with  the  pastor  of  this  church, 
to  make  arrangements  for  conducting  the  religious  exercises  of  the  dav« 


(     5     ) 

Tiie  Rev.  Drs.  BIythe,  Magraw,  Montgomery,  and  Phillips, 
with  the  Elders,  Robert  Wray,  Jas.  Lenox,  Jr.,  and  Arch'd  George, 
were  appointed  a  standing  committee,  to  whom  all  papers  relating  to 
the  business  of  the  Convention  shall  be  referred,  and  through  whom 
they  shall  be  introduced  to  the  Convention. 

Adjourned,  to  meet  on  Saturday  morning  at  9  o'clock.  Conclud- 
ed with  prayer. 

Saturday  Morning,  May  16. 

The  Convention  met,  and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Members 
present  as  before.     The  minutes  of  the  last  session  were  read. 

Yesterday  was  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humiliation  and  pray- 
er, in  connexion  with  the  people  of  the  congregation  in  whose  place  of 
worship  its  sessions  are  held,  and  others  also.  The  religious  exerci- 
ses wore  well  attended,  exceedingly  solemn  and  interesting. 

The  following  persons  presented  certificates  of  their  appointment 
by  the  Presbyteries  to  which  they  belong,  and  took  their  ^cats  in  Con- 
vention, viz: 

PRESBYTERIES. 

Philadelphia,  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.  D. 

"  Elder  Alexander  Symington. 

Newton,  Elder  Thos.  M'Keen. 

Madison,  Elder  Victor  King. 

Philadelphia,  2d,  Rev.  C.  C.  Cuyler,  D.  D. 

Bethel,  Rev.  J.  Le  Roy  levies. 

Allegheny^  Rev.  John  Moore. 

Elder  John  White. 
Georgia,  Rev.  Nathaniel  A.  Pratt. 

Indianapolis,  Rev.  David  Monfort. 

"  Elder  John  Hendricks. 

Huntingdon,  Elder  Jonathan  M'Williams. 

South  Carolina,  Elder  David  Leslie. 

Mississippi,  Rev.  George  Potts. 

Bedford,  Rev.  Jacob  Green. 

Elder  John  Owen. 
Washington,  Elder  Jambs  M'Farren. 

Kaskaslda,  Elder  James  A.  Ramsey. 

Oxford,,  Elder  B.  C.  Swan. 

The  following  persons  also  presented  satisfactory  evidence  of  (heir 
appointment  by  minorities  of  the  Presbyteries  to  which  they  belon<T, 
viz: 

PRESBYTERIES. 

Fayettcville,  Rev.  Colin  M'lver. 

Craufordsville,  Rev.  Launcelot  G.  Bell, 

Concord,  Rev.  John  Silliman. 

Mr.  James  Lenox,  Jun.,  resigned  his  seat  to  Elder  Samuel  Boyd, 
the  principal  named  in  his  commission. 

The  Rev.  Ashbel  Green,  D.  D.,  took  his  seat  as  President  of  the 
Convention. 

The  standing  committee  reported  paper  No.  1,  being  a  memorial 


(    c    ) 

of  a  minority  of  the  Presbytery  of  Cincinnati,  which  was  read  and  put 
on  docket. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Junkin,  Cuyler,  Wilson,  and  Pratt,  and  Elders 
Boyd,  Symington  and  George,  were  appointed  a  committee,  to  consider 
and  report  to  this  house,  as  soon  as  practicable,  what  shall  appear  to 
be  the  most  expedient  form  or  method  of  presenting  to  the  General 
Assembly  the  views  of  this  Convention  relative  to  existing  grievan- 
ces in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  the  measures  necessary  for  their 
redress. 

After  a  short  recess  of  the  Convention,  this  committee  reported 
the  following  resolutions,  which  were  adopted,  viz: 

Resolved  1st.  That  the  only  expedient  form  is  that  of  respectful 
memorial  and  petition,  addressed  to  the  Assembly,  with  our  signatures, 
as  individuals,  together  with  such  other  ministers  and  elders  as  may 
choose  to  unite  with  us. 

Resolved  2d.  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  such 
memorial,  when  the  Convention  shall  have  decided  the  points  to  be 
embodied  therein. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Junkin,  Witherspoon,  and  Wilson,  and  Elders 
Boyd,  Owen,  and  George,  were  appointed. 

The  Convention  had  a  recess  until  half  past  two  o'clock. 

After  recess,  the  Convention  resumed  business. 

The  standing  committee  on  documents  reported  paper  No.  2,  be- 
ing a  memorial  from  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis,  addressed  to  the 
Convention,  which  was  read,  and  ordered  to  be  placed  on  the  docket. 

Paper  No.  1  was  taken  up,  and  after  consideration  of  the  items 
contained  in  it,  it  was 

On  motion.  Resolved,  1st.,  That  the  operation  of  any  Missionary 
Society  within  the  Presbyterian  Church,  not  responsible  to  any  of 
its  judicatories,  is  an  infraction  of  her  rights,  and  inconsistent  with  her 
peace  and  integrity. 

Resolved  2d,  That  the  operation  of  any  Education  Society  with- 
in the  Presbyterian  Church,  for  the  training  of  her  ministry,  inde- 
pendently of  her  ecclesiastical  judicatories,  is  a  usurpation  of  the 
rights  of  the  Church,  and  ought  to  be  resisted,  as  tending  to  under- 
mine her  own  Education  Board,  and  the  independence  of  her  minis- 
fry. 

Resolved,  That  the  above  resolutions  be  referred  to  the  com- 
mittee on  the  Memorial. 

Adjourned  to  meet  on  Monday  morning,  at  9  o'clock.  Closed 
with  prayer. 

■  Monday  Morning,  May  18,  9  o'clock. 

The  Convention  met,  and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Members 
present,  as  before. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  session  were  read. 

Dr.  David  George,  Elder,  appeared;  and,  having  produced  a  cer- 
tificate of  appointment  from  the  Presbytery  of  Harmony,  took  his  seat 
as  a  member  of  the  Convention. 

The  following  persons  also  produced  satisfactory  evidence  of  ap- 


(  ''  ) 

pointmcnl  by  the  minorities  of  the  Presbyteries  to  which  they  belong, 
and  took  their  seats  as  members  of  the  house,  viz: 

rilESBYTERIES. 

West  Lexington,  Rev.  Robert  Stuart, 

ChilUcothe,  Rev.  Samuel  Steele. 

The  Convention  resumed  the  unfinished  business  of  Saturday,  viz: 
the  consideration  of  paper  No.  1,  reported  by  the  standing  committee. 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  appointed  to  draft  a  memorial 
to  the  Assembly  be  instructed  to  make  such  a  statement  relative  to 
the  formation  of  ecclesiastical  judicatories,  on  what  has  been  called  the 
principle  of  "elective  affinity,"  as  shall  express  the  disapprobation  of 
this  Convention  of  all  action  on  that  principle  by  any  judicatory  of  this 
church,  and  our  desire  that  the  evils  which  have  already  been  produ- 
ced by  acting  on  said  principle  may  be  redressed. 

Resolved, further,  That  the  right  of  examininir,  and  after  exam- 
ination, of  receiving  or  refusing  to  receive,  any  minister,  licentiate,  or 
candidate,  whether  from  foreign  bodies,  or  from  Presbyteries  of  our 
own  church,  however  sustained  by  credentials,  is  inherent  in  every 
Presbytery,  and  is  essential  to  its  well-being. 

Resolved,  That  this  subject  be  referred  to  the  committee  appoint- 
ed to  draft  the  memorial  to  the  Assembly. 

On  motion.  Resolved,  That  the  subject  of  doctrinal  errors  exist- 
ing in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  also  that  of  the  repeal  of  the  re- 
solution of  the  last  General  Assembly,  touching  the  right  of  judica- 
tories to  try  and  condemn  heretical  publications,  be  also  referred  to 
said  committee,  as  proper  to  be  inserted  in  the  memorial. 

The  Convention  had  a  recess  until  half  past  two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Half  past  two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Convention  resumed  business.  The  unfinished  business  of  the 
forenoon  was  resumed. 

Resolved,  That  without  expressing  any  opinion  relative  to  the 
constitutionaUty  of  the  act  of  the  Assembly  of  1801,  relative  to  the 
united  action  of  Congregational  and  Presbyterian  churches  and  min- 
isters in  the  frontiers  of  our  country,  or  the  expediency  of  said  Act  at 
the  time  it  was  passed,  the  committee  be  instructed  to  express  it  as  the 
opinion  of  the  members  of  this  Convention,  that  the  farther  operation 
of  that  Act  is  injurious  to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  therefore  that 
said  Act,  as  soon  as  practicable,  ought  to  be  repealed. 

The  subject  of  the  "Plan  of  Union  and  Correspondence,"  between 
the  General  Assembly  and  the  several  General  Associations  of  New 
England,  was  referred  to  the  committee,  as  a  fit  subject  to  be  embrac- 
ed in  the  memorial. 

Paper  No.  2,  reported  by  the  standing  committee,  being  a  memo- 
rial from  the  Presbytery  of  Indianapolis,  was  taken  up  and  referred  to 
the  committee  on  the  memorial. 

The  Rev.  Messrs.  Stuart  and  Steele,  vvith  Messrs.  M'Pherson  and 
Ferguson,  Elders,  were  added  to  the  committee  on  the  memorial. 

Adjourned  to  meet  to -monow  morning  at  9  o'clock.  Concluded 
with  prayer. 


(     8     ) 

Tuesday  Morning,  May  19,  9  o'clock. 

The  Coiiveatiou  met,  and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Members 
present,  as  before. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  session  were  read. 

The  following  resolution  was  introduced,  viz: 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  on  the  memorial  be  instructed  to 
present  to  the  General  Assembly  the  solemn  conviction  of  this  Con- 
ventiouj  that  the  Presbyterian  Church  owes  it  as  a  sacred  duty  to  her 
glorified  Head,  to  yield  a  far  more  exemplary  obedience,  (and  that  in 
her  distinctive  character  as  a  church,)  to  the  command  which  he  gave 
at  his  ascension  into  heaven:  "Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature."  It  is  believed  to  be  among  the  causes 
of  the  frowns  of  the  great  Head  of  the  church,  which  are  now  resting 
.on  our  beloved  Zion,  in  the  declension  of  vital  piety,  and  the  disorders 
and  divisions  that  distract  us,  that  we  have  done  so  little — compara- 
tively nothing — in  our  distinctive  character,  as  a  church  of  Christ,  to 
send  the  gospel  to  the  heathen,  the  Jews,  and  the  Mohamedans.  It 
is  regarded  as  of  vital  importance  to  the  welfare  of  our  church,  that 
foreign  as  well  as  domestic  missions  should  be  more  zealously  prose- 
cuted, and  more  liberally  patronized;  and  that,  as  a  nucleus  of  foreign 
missionary  effort  and  operation,  the  Western  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety should  receive  the  countenance,  as  it  appears  to  us  to  merit  the 
confidencej  of  those  who  cherish  an  attachment  to  the  doctrines  and 
order  of  the  church  to  which  we  belong. 

After  some  discussion,  the  above  document  was  committed  to  the 
Rev.  Messrs.  Blythe,  Cuyler,  and  Witherspoon,  with  instructions  to 
introduce  the  subject  to  the  notice  of  the  General  Assembly,  through 
the  committee  on  Bills  and  Overtures. 

The  Convention  had  a  recess  until  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 

Three  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Convention  assembled,  and  spent  a  short  season  in  devotion. 

The  committee  on  the  memorial  presented  a  report,  which  was 
accepted;  and  the  Convention,  having  decided  to  consider  the  same  by 
paragraphs,  after  making  some  progress  therein, 

Adjourned,  to  meet  to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock.  Concluded 
with  prayer. 

Wednesday  Mokning,  May  20,  9  o'clock. 

The  Convention  met,  and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Members 
present  as  at  the  last  adjournment. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  session  were  read. 

The  Rev.  Dugald  M'Intyre,  from  the  Presbytery  of  Abingdon, 
appeared,  and  took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  Convention. 

Messrs.  Baird,  Symington  and  Owen  were  appointed  a  committee 
of  finance. 

The  Convention  resumed  the  unfinished  business  of  yesterday,  viz: 
the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  memorial,  which  was  considered 
by  paragraphs;  and,  after  some  farther  progress  therein, 

The  Convention  had  a  recess  till  half  past  2  o'clock,  P.  M. 


(    a   ) 

Half  after  Two  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Convention  resumed  the  unfinished  business  of  the  forenoon, 
viz:  the  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  committee  on  the  memorial. 
The  several  paragraphs  were  amended  and  adopted. 

The  question  was  then  taken  on  the  whole  report  as  amended;  and 
the  Avhole  was  unanimoiishj  adopted,  and  is  as  follows,  viz: 

To  the  Reverend  Moderator  and  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church,  the  Memorial  and  Petition  of  the  undersigned,  Minis- 
ters and  Ruling  Elders  of  said  Church,  most  affectionately  shev/eth; 

That,  in  the  exercise  of  a  common  right,  guaranteed  by  the  God 
of  nature  to  all  his  rational  creatures  upon  earth,  and  fully  set  forth  in 
the  sacred  scriptures  as  the  birthright  of  every  child  of  his  covenant, 
we  come — and  we  desire  to  come  with  the  Spirit  of  the  meek  and 
lowly  Lamb  of  God — into  the  presence  of  this  reverend  body,  as 
possessing  the  only  adequate  power  to  afford  the  relief  wo  desire — 
we  come  to  spread  before  you  our  grievances,  and  to  ask  the  interposi- 
tion of  your  authority  for  their  redress. 

With  you  we  recognize  the  Unity  and  Universality  of  that  Church 
of  the  living  Redeemer  which  he  hath  purchased  with  his  own  blood. 
"The  visible  Church,  which  is  universal,  consists  of  all  those  through- 
out the  world  that  profess  the  true  religion,  together  with  their  chil- 
dren." "By  one  Spirit  are  wo  all  baptized  into  one  body,  whether 
we  be  Jews  or  Gentiles,  whether  we  be  bond  or  free,  and  have  been 
all  made  to  drink  into  one  Spirit." 

With  us  you  will  doubtless  agree,  that  this  Church  universal  is 
called  out  of  the  world,  and  constituted  and  organized  by  her  divine 
Head  into  a  household  and  family,  under  general  laws  and  regulations 
imposed  upon  her  by  his  own  supreme  authority.  "Now  therefor© 
ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  foreigners,  but  fellow  citizens  with  the 
saints  and  of  the  household  of  God" — "of  whom  the  whole  family  in 
heaven  and  earth  is  named."  It  is  not  lei't  to  the  corrupt  volition  of 
men,  whether  they  will  or  will  not  come  into  this  family.  On  the 
contrary,  they  are  laid  under  eternal  obligations,  by  the  voice  of  the 
Son  of  man  calling  them,  in  the  sweet  promises  of  tho  gospel,  to  life 
and  peace  and  joy.  Others  innumerable  are  born  members  of  his 
Church,  and  it  is  not  optional  with  them — they  may  not,  if  they  choose, 
expatriate  themselves  from  his  blessed  kingdom.  On  the  contrary, 
the  entire  weight  of  their  heavenly  Father's  authority  lies  upon  them, 
and  binds  them  to  a  faithful  improvement  and  everlasting  possession 
of  their  invaluable  birthright. 

Still,  though  the  visible  Church  Universal  is  thus  organized  and  con- 
stituted, yet,  as  it  is  physically  impossible  that  all  this  Church  can 
act  together;  as  it  must  be  collected  in  various  parts  of  the  world  into 
distinct  bodies  for  purposes  of  worship,  and  the  regulation  of  social,  and, 
as  it  were,  domestic  relations;  as  the  geographical  divisions  of  the 
world,  and  the  political  distinctions  which  the  providence  of  God  has 
permitted  to  exist,  imperiously  call  for  social  organizations  of  smaller 


(     10    ) 

numbers,  we  tliink  it  cannot  be  denied  that  in  this  restricted  sense  the 
Church,  or,  to  speak  more  precisely,  the  sections  of  the  Church,  must 
necessarily  be  voluntary  associations;  that  is.  Christians  are  left  free 
to  associate  as  they  may  choose  into  distinct  bands  for  mutual  conven- 
ience and  Christian  communion.  These  distinct  communities  of  be- 
lievers may  also  voluntarily  connect  themselves  together  into  larger 
bodies,  according  to  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  scriptures  and  in 
the  standards  of  the  Church  which  this  venerable  body  represents. 
Thus  is  this  General  Assembly  constituted,  and  in  this  sense  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  is  a  voluntary  association.  No  man  is  at  liberty  to 
separate  himself  from  the  visible  Church;  but  any  man  may  separate 
from  this  portion  of  it,  and  attach  himself  to  another.  On  this  princi- 
ple of  common  right  and  common  freedom  is  the  Presbyterian  Church 
founded,  and  therefore  she  declares,  that  "every  Christian  Church  or 
union,  or  association  of  particular  Churches,  is  entitled  to  declare  the 
terms  of  admission  into  its  communion,  and  the  qualifications  of  its 
ministers  and  members,  as  well  as  the  whole  system  of  its  internal 
government  which  Christ  hath  appointed;" — "they  think  it  necessary 
to  make  effectual  provision,  that  all  who  are  admitted  as  teachers  be 
sound  in  the  faith."     {Forin  of  Government,  Chap.  I,  II,  V.)' 

Airreeably  to  these  principles,  the  Constitution  of  our  Church 
makes  the  Presbyteries  the  fountains  of  power.  They  create  the 
General  Assembly.  To  them  is  reserved,  according  to  the  Scriptures, 
the  power  of  ordination,  installation,  removal,  and  judging  of  ministers. 
The'  Presbytery  only  can  confer  ministerial  authority;  the  Presbytery 
only  can  take  it  away.  The  Presbytery  can  refuse  to  ordain  or  io 
admit  into  their  number  any  person  whom  they  judge  erroneous  or 
scandalous.  If  this  power  does  not  exist  in  the  Presbytery,  your 
memorialists  can  see  no  principle  of  self-preservation  in  the  body.  If 
every  Presbytery  is  bound  to  receive  all  who  may  present  themselves 
and  claim  admission  on  the  authority  of  credentials  from  a  foreign 
body,  or  from  another  Presbytery,  it  is  self-evident  that  the  defection 
of  one  Presbytery  from  the  ti^uth  and  purity  of  the  gospel  may  involve 
the  entire  body  in  the  same  corruption.  There  is  no  conservative 
power.  The  very  ends  of  Presbyter ial  existence  as  laid  down  in  our 
Constitution  are  defeated,  and  a  wide  door  and  effectual  is  thrown  open, 
for  the  introduction  of  whatever  errors  it  may  please  the  enemies  of 
truth  to  send  abroad  among  our  Churches.  And  here.  Rev.  Fathers 
and  Brethren,  is'the 

First  grievance  over  which  we  mourn. 

The  last  General  Assembly,  by  an  act  recorded  in  page  26  of 
their  printed  minutes,  has  denied  this  right  to  the  Presbyteries,  and 
by  that  denial  has  opened  the  flood-gates  of  error,  which,  if  not  soon 
stopped,  must  sweep  away  the  fair  fabric  of  our  church's  purify,  and 
leave  us  to  sorrow  over  the  melancholy  wreck  of  our  Zion,  without 
a  willow  on  which  to  hang  our  harps.  In  behalf  of  the  Presbyteries 
to  which  we  respectively  belong,  and  of  all  other  true  Presbyteries  of 
our  beloved  church,  we  invoke  a  return  to  the  genius  of  the  Constitu- 
tion; a  restoration  of  the  right  and  power  of  self-preservation;  a  re- 


(  11  ) 

peal  of  the  obnoxious  act,  and  a  distinct  recognition,  by  this  Assembly, 
of  the  inalienable  right  in  every  Presbytery,  of  examining  every  ap- 
plicant for  admission  into  their  number,  be  his  credentials  what  they 
may,  and  of  rejecting  him,  provided  they  think  his  admission  would  en- 
danger their  own  purity  and  peace. 

II.  Intimately  connected  with,  and  nearly  allied  to  this,  is  our 
Skcond  grievance;  viz:  an  act  of  the  last.  General  Assembly,  record- 
ed in  their  minutes,  page  26;  whereby  the  right  and  propriety  of  a 
Presbytery's  taking  up  and  censuring  a  printed  publication,  irrespective 
of  its  author,  is  denied. 

This  act  is  the  more  offensive  because  it  is  contrary  to  the  prac- 
tice of  former  General  Assemblies,  and  inconsistent  with  the  princi- 
ples of  freedom  guaranteed  in  the  Word  of  God,  and  the.  Constitution 
of  our  Church.  The  act  in  question,  whilst  it  appears  to  your  irJemo- 
rialists  to  extend  this  right  to  errorists,  denies  a  correspondent  right 
in  a  Presbytery.  The  abettor  of  flilse  doctrine  may  freely  divulge 
his  opinions.  Any  private  citizen  of  the  commonwealth,  or  member 
of  the  Church  or  Presbytery,  may  freely  criticise  and  severely  cen- 
sure the  errors  of  the  published  book;  but  a  Presbytery  has  no  rights 
of  this  kind.  They  may  not  lift  the  voice  of  warning.  The}-  must 
not  whisper  a  censure  upon  the  book.  They  can  only  try  the  man. 
The  pestilential  volume  may  send  forth  its  poisonous  infection  amongst 
the  flock,  "over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  them  overseers," 
and  for  whose  purity  and  peace  and  salvation  they  are  held  account- 
able by  the  Chief  Shepherd;  but  their  Presbyterial  hands  are  tied  up. 
They  dare  not  lift  a  finger.  They  can  only  bring  charges  against  the 
author. 

But,  reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren,  if  the  author  thus  arraigned 
be  artful,  and  disposed  to  give  trouble,  as  history  teaches  us  errorists 
are  likely  to  be,  who  can  tell  how  long  he  may  perplex  the  court  and 
defer  the  issue  of  his  trial?  Meanwhile,  however,  the  leaven  of  false 
doctrine  is  working  its  way.  The  uncensured  and  uncensurable  book 
is  poisoning  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  the  Presbytery  either  cannot 
or  will  not  apply  the  remedy.  Your  memorialists  most  respectfully 
and  earnestly  entreat  a  reversal  of  the  obnoxious  resolution  referred  to. 
III.  The  Tjiikd  item  of  grievance  and  petition,  which  we  beg 
leave  to  present,  is  at  the  same  time  an  aggravation  of  the  second; 
viz:  The  erection  of  church  courts,  especially  of  Presbyteries  and 
Synods,  upon  the  principle  of  "elective  affinity,"  so  called  by  its  prim- 
itive advocates;  that  is,  having  regard,  not  to  geographical  limits; 
not  to  convenience  for  attendance  of  the  members;  not  to  the  expe- 
dition of  business;  but  to  diversities  of  doctrinal  views  and  church 
policy  in  those  elected  to  such  bodies,  from  their  brethren  and  from 
the  standards  of  the  Church;  to  personal  animosities  and  antipathies 
growing  out  of  such  diversities;  and  to  the  consequent  enlargoment  of 
this  alienated  interest  of  sentiment  and  feeling.  Where  a  Presbyte- 
ry and  Synod  of  this  description  exist,  it  is  easy  to  see  how  it  aggra- 
vates the  grievance  just  presented.  If,  agreeably  to  the  injunction  of 
the  last  General  Assembly,  some  person  does  undertake  the  painful 


(     12    ) 

and  unpleasant  duty  of  preferring  charges  against  (he  author  of  the  boofc, 
can  it  be  supposed  that  a  Presbytery,  to  whom  such  authoi  is  bound 
by  the  very  affinities  of  such  doctrine,  will  cut  the  bonds  of  their  own. 
union,  by  condemning  either  the  book  or  its  author?  And  if  they 
should  so  far  forget  themselves  as  to  commit  the  suicidal  act  of  con* 
demning  the  very  doctrines  which  constitute  the  principle  of  their  af- 
finit}-,  will  their  Synod  do  the  samel  Will  it  turn  recreant  to  the 
cause  for  which  it  was  creaJed.  Thus  Jhe  Assembly  must  perceive, 
that  every  sucb  prosecution  before  such  body  must,  if  issued  at  all,  be 
finally  issued  in  the  Assembly;  and  so  long  as  the  General  Assemblies 
of  our  Church  consent  to  the  existence  of  such  bodies,  just  so  long  do 
they  pledge  themselves  to  protect  their  action.  We  therefore  have 
no  hope  of  rpdress,  but  in  a  change  of  purpose  and  action,  in  the  su- 
preme judicatoi-y  of  our  beloved  Church.  You,  Brethren,  and  yo« 
only,  can  lay  the  axe  to  the  root  of  this  evil. 

Let  as  take  another  view  of  this  subject.  Our  JRoofc  of  Discipline 
says,  (Form  of  Government,  Chap.  X.  ii.)  "A  Presbytery  consists  of 
all  the  ministers,  and  one  ruling  elder  from  each  congregation  within 
a  certain  district."  But  the  acts  of  some  late  General  Assemblies, 
have  practically  contradicted  this  clause.  It  is  not  true,  either  of 
"  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia,"  or  of  "the  [Assembly's]  Second 
Presbyterj'  of  Philadelphia,"  or  of  "the  Second  [Synodical]  Presby- 
tery of  Philadelphia,"  that  it  "consists  of  all  the  ministers,  and  one 
ruling  elder  from  each  congregation  within  a  certain  district." 

Besides,  the  natural,  and  your  memorialists  believe  the  inevita- 
ble consequence  of  this  principle  is,  increased  alienation,  strife  for 
numbers  and  preponderance,  division  of  churches,  disruption  of  har- 
mony in  congregations,  the  encouragemetit  of  dissatisfied  spirits,  and 
formation  of  parties,  and  all  ihe  miseries  of  violent  party  strife. — 
Many  of  us  do  hoi'jestly  believe  that  the  practical  effects  have  been 
schism  in  the  body — real,  substantial,  melancholy  schism — schism 
more  complete  than  if  diSerent  denominations  had  been  at  once  con- 
stituted- The  alienation  is  more  perfect  than  that  which  exists  be- 
tween either  of  the  bodies  and  any  other  denomination  covering  the 
same  territory.  Hence  we  do  most  earnestly  entreat  this  Assembly — 
for  the  purity  of  Zion  and  the  peace  of  the  church — we  pray  for  a 
reversal  of  the  principle,  and  all  the  acts  springing  from  it,  and  a  res- 
toration of  the  Synod  created  thereby  to  their  former  ecclesiastical 
position. 

IV.  Nearly  allied  to  this  is  our  Fouhtii  item  of  grievance,  viz: 
The  existence  and  operation,  within  our  church,  of  a  Missionary  So- 
ciety in  no  sense  amenable  to  her  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction.  And 
here  you  will  bear  with  us,  first,  in  pointing  out  the  connection  with 
the  preceding.  If  Presbyteries  do  exist,  on  the  avowed  principle  of 
diversity  in  doctrinal  opinion  and  feeling,  and  have  the  power  of  li- 
censing and  ordaining  (in  many  instances  sine  titulo)  men  of  their 
own  creeds,  then  a  missionary  institution  seems  requisite  to  send  such 
licentiates  and  ministers  into  the  field.  Such  an  institution  does  exist; 
bound  by  its  own  rules  to  sustain  missionaries,  irrespective  of  their 
adherence  to  or  rejection  of  the  doctrinal  standards  ot  our  church. — 


r  13  ) 

This  institution  operates  largely  in  our  congregations;  frst,  by  sweep- 
ing away  from  our  own  Board  the  funds  which,  by  the  laws  of  all 
social  order,  ought  to  come  into  the  treasury  of  the  body  to  which  its 
possessors  belong;  and,  secondhj,  by  throwing  into  our  Presbyteries, 
brethren  who,  in  many  instances,  have  never  adopted  the  standards  of 
our  church  at  ail,  and  in  more,  who  have  only  adopted  them  '■'■for  sub- 
stances of  doctrine;''''  that  is,  just  as  much  of  them  as  suits  their  own 
views.  Thus  a  separate  moneyed  interest  is  created  and  kept  up  in 
the  bosom  of  the  same  Christian  community.  The  Assembly's  own 
Board  of  Missions,  created  by  herself,  governed  by  herself,  and  ame- 
nable to  herself,  finds  a  great  and  powerful  rival  in  her  own  house, 
with  whom  she  comes  in  perpetual  collision.  And  rival  agents  meet 
on  the  same  field,  and  frequently  those  of  our  own  church  are  foiled 
in  their  efforts  by  the  improper  interference  and  influence  of  an  institution 
which  owns  no  allegiance  to  us,  and  feels  no  obligation  to  our  courts. 
So  violent  were  these  contentions,  that  the  Assembly  of  1831  recom- 
mended a  convention  to  be  held  in  Cincinnati,  to  adjust  the  difficulties. 
This  convention  was  held.  It  decided  in  favor  of  the  church's  car-* 
rying  on  her  own  missions  by  her  own  board.  Still,  however,  the 
foreign  society  kept  the  field,  and  continues  to  this  hour  to  conflict  with 
your  board. 

Now,  Fathers  and  Brethren,  these  things  afflict  us  exceedingly. 
We  are  pained  to  see  such  an  inveterate  warfare  carried  on  so  long. 
And  we  are  unspeakably  distressed  to  be  constrained  to  view  this  as 
a  part  of  a  great  system  of  operations  whose  tendency  is  to  subvert 
the  foundations  of  our  Zion.  The  evidence  of  such  a  system  forces 
itself  upon  us.  We  cannot  shut  our  eyes  against  it  if  we  would,  and 
we  would  not  if  we  could.  Painful  as  the  vision  is,  we  are  determin- 
ed to  behold  it  steadfastly;  and  we  crave  the  attention  of  this  venera- 
ble body  to  the  same.  Look  wc  pray  yop  to  the  facts.  A  large  mon- 
eyed institution — (for  that  is  a  large  moneyed  institution  which  has  a 
large  income  from  whatever  source) — a  large  moneyed  institution,  over 
which  neither  you  as  an  Assembly,  nor  the  Presbyteries  which  give 
you  an  annual  existence,  nor  the  Synods  intermediate,  have  any  con- 
trol, has  subsidised  almost  your  whole  western  territory.  "A  git't 
blindeth  the  eyes."  Can  a  minister  or  an  elder,  whose  congregation 
is  supported  in  a  large  degree  by  a  power  forftign  to  your  church,  free 
himself  utterly  from  foreign  influence?  Vain  is  the  hope!  Human 
nature  is  not  thus  constituted.  Without  impeacliing  the  honesty  and 
the  honor  of  persons  thus  situated,  we  feel  confident  that  an  influence 
great  and  effectual  must  rest  in  the  hands  that  dispense  this  bounty. 

But  let  the  Church  be  her  own  alijioner,  and  every  time  her  hand 
is  opened  to  her  sons  and  her  daughters,  she  binds  them  the  more 
closely  to  her  interests.  Her  constitution  whoso  legitimate  opera- 
tions produce  these  happv  results  becomes  the  rallying  point  of  re- 
coiling gratitude;  and  instead  of  jarring  and  contentions  without  end, 
union  in  the  truth  and  peace,  as  its  blessed  effect,  must  fill  our  Zion 
with  joy  and  gladness.  We  pray  this  General  Assembly  (o  sustain 
her  own  Board  of  Missions,  by  solemnly  enjoining  upon  all  the  church- 


(    14    ) 

es  to  contribute  to  its  funds,  and  by  rescinding  the  resolutions  former- 
ly passed,  which  recommended  to  their  patronage  "The  Home  Mis- 
sionary Society." 

V.  Your  attention  is  now  invited  to  another  part  of  the  same  sys- 
tem. Before  youth  looking  forward  to  the  gospel  ministry  can  be 
properly  licensed  and  sent  forth,  they  must  be  educated;  and  efforts 
have  been  already  made  in  this  cause  worthy  of  high  commendation. 
Nor  have  we  any  thing  to  object  against  efforts  either  to  prepare  or 
to  send  men  to  preach  to  the  destitute  at,  home  or  abroad.  Both  these 
causes  we  desire  to  see  prospering.  For  both  we  have  labored  and 
prayed,  and  for  both  we  will  continue  to  labor  and  pray.  But  then 
we  desire  to  see  them  prospering  consistently  with  regard  to  the 
truth  and  purity  and  integrity  of  our  own  church.  The  great  burden 
of  ministerial  duty  is  to  enlighten  and  save  the  world.  And  no  obli- 
gation more  sacred  and  solemn  lies  upon  them,  than  that  of  training 
the  heralds  of  the  cross  who  are  to  bear  the  banner  of  her  faith  in  tri- 
umph round  the  world.  Let  the  church  give  good  heed  to  this  great 
concern,  and  the  work  of  salvation  will  go  on  ;  let  her  neglect  this,  or 
do  it  in  a  careless  manner,  and  the  wheels  of  the  gospel  chariot  must 
move  heavily,  stop,  perhaps  retrograde. 

Now  the  question  before  us  is,  to  whom  shall  this  most  sacred  and 
solemn  duty  be  entrusted  by  the  church?  Shall  she  do  it  herself,  with 
her  own  hands?  or  shall  she  throw  it  into  the  hands  of  a  body,  self- 
created,  and  in  no  sense  amenable  to  her  ecclesiastical  tribunals? 
a  body  which  may  change  in  half  a  generation,  and  train  her  sons  to 
her  own  destruction?  This  is  the  question  we  would  press  upon  your 
consideration:  and  we  would  most  respectfully  suggest,  that  no  church 
can  be  safe — safe  in  her  doctrinal  standards — safe  in  her  ecclesiastical 
polity — safe  in  her  financial  operations — safe  in  the  independence  of 
her  ministrj',  if  that  ministry  are  dependent  upon  an  independent 
foreign  body;  and  especially,  if  their  houses  and  lands,  their  libraries 
and  furniture^  are  under  bonds.  Without  any  impeachment  of  motives, 
or  imputation  of  extraordinary  weakness,  we  beg  leave  to  repeat, 
"  A  gift  blindeth  the  eyes,"  and  to  refer  to  the  course  of  remark  under 
the  preceding  item. 

Similar  collisions  occur  here  also.  Your  agents  are  met  in  the  field 
by  the  agents  of  a  society  beyond  your  control.  They  are  often 
beaten  ofl'  the  ground,  and  the  six  or  seven  hundred  young  men  under 
the  care  of  your  Board  of  Education  are  reduced  to  a  precarious  de- 
pendence: whereas,  did  the  church,  in  her  highest  ecclesiastical 
coui't,  stand  forth  in  her  own  defence,  her  treasury  would  overflow,  and 
all  these  collisions  and  conflict^  of  varied  interests  would  cease;  whilst 
her  own  fimds  would  go  to  her  own  sons,  and  not,  to  their  prejudicer, 
for  the  maintenance  of  those  in  other  churches,  who  are  never  expect- 
ed to  aid  in  building  up  the  walls  of  our  Zion.  We  pray  and  beseech 
this  reverend  body  to  sustain,  by  all  the  weight  of  its  influence,  the 
education  cause  of  our  own  church. 

VI.  In  the  apprehension  of  your  memorialists,  not  a  small  pro- 
portion of  the  evils  which  distract  oiir  Zion  have  grown  and  do  still 


(  1^  ) 

grow  out  of  "the  phmof  union*'  adopted  in  1801.  We  say  nothing 
here  of  the  wisdom  of  that  measure  at  the  time,  nor  of  its  constitution- 
ality. W^e  know  it  was  the  work  of  wise  and  good  men.  But  we 
must  be  allowed  to  express  the  opinion,  that  jiojo  it  leads  to  alienation, 
contentions  and  disorders.  For  proof  of  this  we  have  only  to  refer  to 
the  minutes  of  preceding  (ieneral  Assemblies.  It  is  notorious  that 
very  painful  conflicts  have  occurred  ni  the  Assembly  on  this  very  sub- 
ject. Brethren  had  long  occupied  seats  in  this  body,  who  were  not 
ruling  elders,  and  never  had  been  Presbyterians,  and,  it  is  believed, 
never  intended  to  become  Presbyterians.  Nor  was  this  evil  remedied 
without  a  long  and  arduous  and  painful  struggle.  Under  the  perfect 
conviction  that  peace  will  never  dwell  with  us  whilst  the  jarring  ele- 
ments of  this  discord  exist  together,  we  beseech  this  Assembly  to  an- 
nul that  act;  and  for  the  siniple  additional  reason  that  the  terms  of 
compact  are  not  complied  with  by  our  congregational  brethren. 

In  proof  of  this  we  allege  that  "the  plan  of  union"  contemplates  the 
existence  of  a  Congregational  Association  and  of  a  Presbytery  on  the 
same  ground;  whereas. we  apprehend  the  facts  generally  to  be  other- 
wise. The  Association  retains  its  essential  character  as  such,  but  is 
called  a  Presbytery.  Congregational  ministers  change  simply  the 
name,  without  ever  adopting  sincerely  the  Confession  of  Faith  of  this 
church.  So  far  from  such  adoption,  the  Presbyteries  of  Grand  River 
and  Portage,  on  May  1,1822,  adopted  a  confession  of  faith  for  their  own 
churches.  And  although  a  subsequent  General  Assembly  ordered  the 
formula  of  questions  in  our  Book  to  be  propounded  to  all  the  members 
of  these  Presbyteries,  yet  your  memorialists  have  reason  to  believe, 
that  in  some  instances,  they  were  not  answered  affirmatively  at  all,  and 
in  others  with  express  reservations. 

Again,  That  plan  of  union  provides  that  every  mixed  congregation 
shall  appoint  a  standing  committ-^e;  "  And  provided  that  the  said 
standing  committee  of  any  church  shall  depute-  one  of  themselves  to 
attend  the  Presbytery,  he  may  have  the  same  right  to  sit  and  act  in 
the  Presbytery  as  a  ruling  elder  of  the  P'fesbyterian  church."  Yet 
we  have  reason  to  believe  that  members  of  churches  often  sit  in 
Presbytery,  who  are  neither  ruling  elders  nor  committee  men;  and 
we  know,  such  have  occupied  scats  in  the  General  Assembly.  This 
is  an  open  infraction  of  the  "  Plan  of  Union."  Hence  we  can  per- 
ceive no  obligation  binding  the  Assembly  to  adhere  to  a  conventional 
agreement  that  is  practically  violated  by  the  other  party,  and  we  pray 
that  it  may  be  formally  annulled. 

VII.  Our  next  grievance  is  of  similar  character,  viz:  "The  Plan 
of  Union  and  Correspondence  with  the  Congregational  Associations  of 
New  England,  and  with  other  churches.  It  is  true,  that  the  relin- 
quishment of  the  right  of  voting  in  the  General  Assembly  has  removed 
part  of  the  evil.  No  longer  now  can  our  constitutional  order  be  voted 
down  by  brethren  opposed  to  it  in  profession  and  principle.  Still,  how- 
ever, against  this  union  there  are  ;<crious  objections. 

It  gives  weight  in  coimsel  and  debate,  which  may  command  votes, 
to  persons  who  belong  not  to  our  ~cciety,  and  who  may  have  a  sectarian 


(  1«  ) 

purpose  to  answer  by  taking  a  particular  side.  Such  things  some  of 
us  have  seen  on  the  floor  of  the  Assembly. 

Besides  the  wliole  matter  is  unconstitutional.  The  General  Assem- 
bly never  had  the  power  of  granting  a  seat  in  this  house  to  any  person. 
■ — (Form  of  Government,  Chap.  XII.,  ii.)  "  The  General  Assem- 
bly shall  consist  of  an  equal  delegation  of  bishops  and  elders  from  each 
Presbytery."  Nor  does  our  constitution  recognize  any  other  mode  of 
acquiring  a  right  to  a  seat  here.  This  is  a  delegated — it  is  a  repre- 
sentative body,  and  in  the  very  nature  of  delegation,  unless  the  dole- 
gates  are  expressly  empowered  to  delegate  others,  they  have  no  such 
power.  Our  constitution  knows  no  such  anomaly  as  representatives 
transferring  the  power  of  representation  to  others. 

We  humbly  conceive  that  our  Book  (Chap.  XIL,y.)  in  conceding 
to  the  Assembly  the  power  of  "corresponding  with  foreigh  churches 
on  such  terms  as  may  be  agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly  and  the  corres- 
ponding body,"  does  not  contemplate  the  violation  of  the  fundamental 
principle  quoted  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  by  granting  seats  in  this 
house  to  persons  not  delegated  by  any  Presbytery.  For  if  the  assembly 
have  the  power  of  conferring  a  right  to  deliberate  and  vote,  it  may  be  so 
exercised  as  to  bring  the  church  under  foreign  dominion.  Against  all 
this  the  constitution  presents  an  insuperable  barrier  in  the  6th  section 
of  this  chapter,  where  the  Presbyteries  reserve  to  themselves  the  ex- 
clusive power  of  establishing  any  constitutional  rule.  Every  regula- 
tion afFecling  constitutional  principles  must  be  referred  to  the  Pres- 
byteries, and  be  by  a  majority  of  them  adopted,  before  they  can  be 
admitted  as  binding.  This  in  reference  to  "  the  Plan  of  Union"  has 
never  been  done.  Now,  clearly,  this  power  of  granting  seats  in  the 
Assembly  vitally  aflects  the  constitution,  which  ought  not  to  be  sacri- 
ficed either  to  expediency  or  courtesy. 

Hence,  with  all  due  respect  and  affection  to  the  good  brethren  of 
other  denominations,  we  pray  this  General  Assembly  to  restore  the 
Constitution,  by  repealing  the  act  which  assumes  this  stretch  of  power. 

Vlll.  Finally,  As  the  object  of  all  ecclesiastical  order  is  Truth, 
m  the  belief,  love  and  practice  of  it;  and  as  "  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly also  belongs  the  power  of  bearing  testimony  against  error  in  doc- 
trine," your  memorialists  would  humbly  call  your  attention  to  the 
present  state  of  the  church  in  this  behalf.  There  is  nothing  worth 
contending  for  but  Truth:  and,  if  we  are  not  greatly  mistaken,  great 
and  fearful  inroads  are  made  on  the  doctrinal  standards  of  our  church: 
and  that  too  not  in  reference  to  matters  of  minor  consequence,  but  in 
the  very  fundamental  principles  of  the  gospel.  One  alarming  feature 
of  the  errors  against  which  we  would  earnestly  entreat  this  General 
Assembly  to  lift  up  a  strong  testimony,  we  beg  leave  to  present,  ft 
is  their  systematic  arrangement.  Did  a  solitary  individual  here  and 
there,  in  cases  few  and  far  between,  touch  upon  a  single  insulated  po- 
sition that  is  false,  and  maintain  it  even  with  pertinacity,  it  would  not 
afford  ground  of  serious  alarm.  But  the  case  is  far  otherwise.  The 
errors  abroad  in  the  church  are  fundamental,  vital  and  systematic. 
The  maintenance  of  one  involves  the  whole,  and  must  lead  a  logical 


(  I^  ) 

nimd  to  embrace  the  system.  iSow  tlie  system  appears  to  your  memo- 
rialists to  lead  directly  toward  Socinianism.  .This  language  may  se§m 
harsh  and  severe.  Alas!  dear  brethren!  it  is  the  harshness  of  love, 
and  the  severity  of  truth.  It  is  not  pleasant  for  us  to  entertain  such 
an  opinion;  but  with  our  eyes  and  our  ears  open,  it  is  impossible  to 
avoid  it.  The  evidence  rushes  upon  us  from  the  pulpit  and  the 
press,  and  we  have  no  power  of  resistance.  That  which  the  under- 
standing clearly  perceives,  the  mind,  with  its  fondest  desires  to  the 
contrary,  must  believe.  It  is  painful  for  the  convicted  sinner  to  be- 
lieve that  his  soul  is  exposed  to  the  wrath  divine:  it  is  painful  for  us 
to  believe  that  our  brethren  are  departing  from  the  foundations  of 
gospel  truth.  But  a  dark  hour  there  often  is  before  the  bright  dawn 
of  heaven's  cheering  light  upon  the  soul  benighted;  may  we  hope  from 
the  action  of  this  venerable  body  a  return  to  the  pure  light  of  scrip- 
ture truth,  and  a  strong  testimony  nguingt  the  errors  that  overturn 
our  constitutional  standards? 

Another  alarming  feature  is  the  boldness  and  pertinacity  with 
which  the  very  existence  of  these  errors  is  denied.  To  this  General 
Assembly  it  would  not  be  information,  vfere  we  to  state  that  the  same 
system  of  error  has  been  characterised  by  the  same  wily  policy  in  every 
age  of  its  appearance  in  the  church.  It  has  ever  been  its  course  at  first 
to  deny  its  own.existence,  and  when  that  was  no  longer  practicable, 
to  assume  a  mask,  and  clothe  itself  with  zeal  as  a  cloak.  This  strong 
feature  of  the  modern  singularly  identifies  it  with  the  ancient  heresy. 

It  is  not  our  purpose  at  present  to  go  into  a  discussion  of  these  doc- 
trines, nor  yet  to  adduce  proof  of  their  existence  in  our  Church. — 
The  evidence  of  this  is  as  clear  as  the  evidence  of  your  existence  in 
this  house  to-day.  The  teeming  press  and  the  groaning  pulpit  pro- 
claim it.  It  may  be  proper  simply  to  present  an  outline  of  the  system. 
Thus, 

1.  The  doctrine  of  AdaTus  federal  headship,  or  representative  char- 
acter, is  denied. 

2.  The  doctrine  of  original  sin  is  denied. 

3.  The  doctrine  of  the  imputation  of  Adani's  sin  to  his  posterity  is 
denied.     The  rejection  of  these  necessarily  leads  to 

4.  A  denial  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ's  federal  headship  or  represen- 

tative character. 

5.  A  denial  of  the  imputation  of  his  righteousness  to  the  believer,  as 
the  essential  procuring  cause  of  his  justif  cation. 

6.  A  rejection  of  the  true,  proper,  vicarious  nature  of  the  atonement 
of  Christ;  and  holds  up  his  sufferings, — his  tears  and  groans 
and  anguish  and  death,  as  a  mere  exhibition;  a  shew  unmeaning, 
for  a  purpose  not  in  accordance  with  revealed  truth.  Thus  the 
daughter  of  Zion  searches  in  vain,  in  the  luxuriant  garden  ot  these 
errors,  for  the  beloved  of  her  soul,  and  in  the  anguish  of  her  disap- 
pointment exclaims,  "They  have  tak«n  away  my  Lord,  and  I  know 
not  where  they  have  laid  him.'' 

3 


(    18    ) 

But  these  errors  do  not  terminate  in  simple  negation.  Another 
system  is  substituted  in  room  of  the  Gospel  thus  rejected.  It  is  the 
system  of  human  perfectibility.     Thus, 

1 .  The  doctrine  of  human  ability  is  held,  involving  the  principle, 
and  gratuitously  assuming  it  as  true,  that  man's  moral  obligations 
are  measured  and  bounded  by  his  present  ability  to  meet  all  the 
requirements  of  God^s  law. 

2.  Accordingly,  the  necessity  of  the  agency,  the  omnipotent  agency 
of  the  Spirit  of  God  in  the  conversion  of  the  said,  is  denied;  and 
conversion  is  afirmed  to  be  the  work  of  the  creature.  Man  re- 
generates his  own  soul.  The  SpiriVs  agency  is  that  of  mere 
moral  suasion.  Regeneration  is  simply  an  act  of  the  mind;  the 
first  in  the  series  of  holy  acts.  Faith  is  an  act  of  the  mind,  and 
nothing  but  an  act  of  the  mind. 

Now",  reverend  Fathers  and  Brethren,  we  humbly  conceive  that 
this  is  "another  Gospel;"  entirely  and  essentially  different  from  that 
laid  down  in  the  Bible  and  our  Confession  of  Faith.  And  we  do  most 
solemnly  and  sorrowfully  believe,  that,  unless  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
raise  up  a  standard  against  it,  it  will  be  followed  in  our  Church,  as  it 
has  been  elsewhere,  by  the  entire  system  of  Pelagianism,  and  ultimately 
of  Socinianism.  If  the  atonement  is  not  essentially  vicarious  and  pen- 
al, why  demand  a  Divine  Redeemer?  If  an  exhibition  is  all  that  is  re- 
quired, why  not  hold  up  Stephen,  or  Peter,  or  Paul,  or  John  Huss,  or 
John  Rogers?  This  tendency  towards  Socinianism  we  think  is  plain- 
ly manifested  in  the  denial  of  the  eternal  filiation  of  the  Son  of  God. 

Again,  if  the  Spirit's  work  is  merely  a  moral  suasion,  why  a  Di- 
vine and  Almighty  Spirit?  Must  not  the  mind  which  denies  the  ne- 
cessity of  an  omnipotent  influence  be  strongly  tempted  to  disbelieve 
the  existence  of  an  omnipotent  agent?  • 

That  we  are  not  rnistaken  in  our  opinion  of  the  tendency  of  these 
doctrines,  we  think  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  Unitarians  do  claim  af- 
finity with  them,  and  express  their  unfeigned  satisfaction  at  the  pros- 
pect of  a  rapid  increase  of  liberal  principles. 

And  nov/,  dear  Brethren,  we  approach  the  termination  of  this  long 
memorial.  V/e  have,  perhaps,  been  tedious.  It  is  because  our  heart 
is  full  of  sorrow;  and  sorrow  finds  a  momentary  relief  in  pouring  forth 
even  unavailing  complainis.  But  ours  is  not  a  hopeless  sorrow.  We 
believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  and  wc  know  that  his  Truth, 
though  borne  away,  insulted  and  forlorn,  into  the  dark  shades  of  a  vain 
metaphysical  philosophy,  will  yet  break  forth,  and  dispel  the  gloom  by 
■which  we  are  surrounded,  and  send  through  our  hearts  and  our  church- 
es the  light  of  life  and  the  consolations  of.  love. 

In  pressing  our  petition  for  redress  of  all  the  grievances  we  have 
enumerated,  and  such  others  in  regard  to  measures  as  the  wisdom  of 
this  General  Assembly  may  select,  we  entreat  you  to  turn  your  eye 
upon  the  aspect  of  the  world.  Lo!  what  an  inviting  field  for  benevo- 
lent enterprise.  And  is  there  a  body  of  believers  in  the  whole  church 
militant,  invested  with  so  many  of  the  qualifications  to  enter  if,  and 


(  1»  ) 


gather  the  lich  harvest  of  glory  to  our  divine  Redeemer,  as  the  Pres- 
byterian Church!  The  position  of  our  country  points  us  out, — the 
position  of  our  church  points  us  out, — tiic  position  of  the  world  points 
us  out, — the  voice  of  unborn  and  unsanctified  milUons  calls  us  to  the 
conflict, — the  Lord  of  Hosts  himself  has  gone  down  into  the  plain  be- 
fore us,  and  chides  our  long  delay.  Now  we  ask.  Brethren!  what 
causes  this  delay?  Why,  when  the  armies  of  the  living  God  begin  to 
consolidate,  and  himself  gives  tlie  watchword,  '■'■Truth  and  Victory.^'' 
— oh!  why  this  delay?  Ah!  there  is  division  in  the  camp!  "There 
be  some  that  trouble  us."  Innovation  distracts  our  counsels,  alienates 
our  aftections,  turns  the  sword  of  brother  in  upon  brother,  and  the 
Master's  work  remains  undone.  Do  you  ask,  'how  shall  tho  evil  bd 
remedied?'  We  reply,  'Let  this  Assembly  come  up  to  the  work  of  re? 
form.  Let  them  establish  the  ancient  landmarks  of  truth.  Let 
them  unfurl  the  banner  of  tlie  Constitution.  Let  all  who  cannot  fight 
under  this  grasp  the  standard  that  suits  their  own  views;  put  on  their 
own  approved  armor;  descend  into  the  plain,  and  stand  or  fall  to  their 
own  Master.  We  pledge  ourselves  in  the  face  of  High  Heaven,  the 
real  Presbyterian  Clmrch  will  not  shrink  from  the  conflict:  and  though 
our  earthen  pitchers  may  be  broken,  our  lights  shall  shine,  and  "the 
sword  of  the  Lord  and  of  Gideon"  shall  turn  the  eye  of  a  gazing  world 
to  that  point  of  the  field  where  victory  perches  on  the  Banner  of 
TituTir.' 

Venerable  Fathers  and  Brethren,  we  are  done.  With  you  and 
God  and  Christ  and  his  Spirit  wo  leave  our  cause.  That  He  may  di- 
rect all  your  counsels  in  this  behalf  to  his  own  glory  and  the  Church's 
good,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  humble  memorialists. 

(Signed,) 


Alex.  Denoon, 
W.W.  Phillips,  D.D., 

Isaac  V.  Brown, 
George  Junkin,  D.  D., 
John  Gray, 
James  C.  Sharon, 
Ashbcl  Green,  D.  D., 
William  Latta, 
James  Magraw,  D.  D., 
J.  N.  C.  Grier, 

John  Moody, 
Daniel  M'lvinley, 
Thomas  Crcigh, 
John  Hutchcson, 
James  Galbraith, 
John  H.  Grier, 
Johnston  |iaton, 


ELDERS. 

John  M'Pherson, 
Samuel  Boyd, 
James  Lenox,  Jr., 

Thomas  M'Keen, 


Alex.  Symington, 
William  Fahnestock, 
James  Wilson, 
Robert  Ralston, 
Arch'd  George, 
Robcit  Elliott, 


PRESBYTERIES. 

Genessee. 
New  York. 

New  Brunswick. 
Newton. 

Susquehannah. 
Philadelphia. 

New  Castle. 

Baltimore. 
Carlisle. 


Jonathan  Vf .  Williams,   Huntingdon. 

CI 

Andrew  Ferguson^  Northumberland: 

Eric. 


(  -^  ) 


MrXISlERS. 

KI.OERS. 

rilliSBVTSRIES 

J.  W.  Scott, 

Beaver. 

Tliomas  E.  Hughes, 

John  Clarke, 

a 

A.  G.  Fail-child, 

Redstone. 

Alexander  M'Candless, 

" 

Joel  Stoneroad, 

" 

John  Rea, 

Matthew  M'Coy, 

Steubenviile. 

C.  C.  Beattie, 

Samuel  Dunlap, 

(( 

Richard  Campbell, 

* 

<c 

James  Hervey, 

James  M'Farran, 

Washington. 

VVm.  C.  Anderson, 

it 

Elisha  Macurdy, 

i<        , 

Thomas  D.  Baird, 

Robert  Wray, 

Ohio. 

J.  W.  Blythe, 

Wm.  Hawkins, 

(i 

George  Marshall, 

it 

A.  D.  Campbell, 

it 

James  Campbell, 

i( 

Joseph  Reed, 

a 

Robert  Patterson, 

" 

James  D.  Ra\', 

«< 

Wm.  Jefleiy, 

(i 

Samuel  Ralston, 

u 

Francis  Laird, 

Jumes  Carolhers, 

Blairsville. 

James  D.  Hughe«. 

Portage. 

Wm.  Hughes, 

John  Ewalt, 

Richland. 

James  Coe, 

E.  Burrows, 

Miami. 

Joshua  L.  Wilson, 

Wm.  Schillenger, 

Cincinnati. 

F.  A.  Kemper, 

(( 

Thos.  E.  Hughes,  Jr. 

Benj'n  C.  Swan, 

Oxford. 

James  Culbertson, 

John  Thompson, 

Lancaster. 

Alex.  Williams, 

Salem. 

John  Matthews, 

James  A.  Ramsay. 

Kaskaskia. 

N.  L.  Rice, 

John  Carr, 

Louisville. 

Colin  M'lver, 

Fayetteville. 

Hugh  Dickson, 

David  Leslie, 

South  Carolina. 

Thomas  Alexander, 

(i 

James  Blythe, 

Victor  King, 

Madison. 

John  Witherspoon, 

David  George, 

Harmony. 

Joseph  Adams, 

Tuscaloosa. 

Alex'rA.  Campbell, 

Western   District 

Sam'l  Caldwell, 

Johnston  White, 

Allegheny. 

John  Moore, 

Benj'n  Junkin, 

it 

John  Munson, 

(C 

James  Snodgrnss, 

Stephen  Coe, 

Wooster. 

C.  e.  Cuyler. 

Philadelphia  2d. 

J.  Leroy  Da*,  iir., 

Bethel. 

David  Montfui  1, 

John  Hendricks, 

Indianapolis. 

Nathan  A.  Pratt, 

Georgia. 

Jacob  Green, 

John  Owen, 

Bedford. 

(  n  ) 

MINISTERS.  CLDERS.  rRESBYT£KlES 

liOuncelot  G.  Bell,  Henry  Robison,               Crawfordsville. 

John  Silliman,  Concord. 

John  Iv.  Montgomery,  Amite. 

Robert  Stuart,  West   Lexington. 

Samuel  Steele,  Chillicothe. 

Thomas  Ciimraings,  Thomas  Houston,             Hudson. 

George  Potts,  Mississippi. 

Ordered,  That  2,500  copies  of  the  Minutes  of  this  Convention 
be  published,  for  distribution  in  the  churches. 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  session  of  the  church  of 
Manchester,  Ohio,  expressive  oftheir  adherence  (6  the  "Act  and  Tea- 
timony,"  wiiich  was  read  and  put  upon  file. 

Adjourned  lo  meet  to-morrow  morning  at  9  o'clock. 

Thursday  Morning,  May  21,  9  o'clock. 

The  Convention  met,  and  was  opened  with  prayer.  Members 
present  as  at  the  adjournment. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  session  were  read. 

Mr.  Stephen  Coe,  Elder,  from  the  Pre.sbytery  of  Wooster,  a|3ppar- 
ed  and  took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the  ( Jonveution. 

Rev.  Messrs.  Junkin,  Green,  and  llaird,  were  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  superintend  the  printing  and  distribution  of  the  minutes  of  the 
Convention. 

Resolved,  imanimously.  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be 
given  to  the  Trustees  of  tiie  Sacond  Presbyterian  Church,  and  to  the 
people  of  Pittsburgh  and  the  vicinity,  for  their  kindness  and  hospitali- 
ty manifested  to  the   members  of  this  Convention  during  its  sittings. 

Unanimously  Rcsolrcd,  That  the  thanks  of  this  house  be  giv- 
en to  those  Editors  of  religious  newspapers,  vvlio,  by  giving  p^iblicity 
to  the  "Act  and  Testimony,"  and  other  doc iur.r;nts  connected  with  the 
same,  have  contributed  to  the  furtherance  cf  the  views  of  this  ('on- 
vention  in  reference  to  the  much  desired  refcrm  in  the  church. 

The  Convention  having  endeavored  to  execute  the  trust  confided 
to  them,  in  the  important  particidars  of  mom!)rializing    the  General 
Assemli'y,  and  provided  for  giving  to  their  constituents  a  detail  aftiieir 
tran<!actions,  by  the  publication  of  all  their  minutes,  unanimously  adipt 
ed  the  following  resolutions,  vi/: — 

1.  That  this  Convention  are  deeply  impressed  with  tlio  conviction, 
that  the  Act  and  Testimony,  prepared  by  some  of  th«?  minority  of  tlia 
last  General  Assembly,  in  connexion  with  other  brethren,  aryi  since 
that  time  so  extensively  adopted,  has  been,  under  the  smiles  and  bless- 
ings of  God,  of  marked  and  extensive  benefit  to  our  beloved  church 

2.  That  wc  recognize  our  obligations  in  the  most  livelv  gratitude 
to  God,  for  the  care  of  Providence  in  bringing  together  the  members 
of  the  Convention,  in  health  and  safety,  and  in  ;hi  e^^pecial  manner, 
for  uniting  us  together  in  the  most  harmonious  accord,  m  all  the  mea- 
sures that  have  been  disciisfv'd  and  ndoplrd 


(    ^22    ) 

3.  That  the  Convention  declare,  that  after  prayer  and  thanksgiv- 
ing, its  proceedings  will  be  terminated,  and  that,  of  course,  it  will  be 
considered  finally  dissolved.  In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  resolu- 
tions, prayer  and  praise  to  God  were  oflered,  the  apostolic  benediction 
was  pronounced,  and  the  President  declared  the  Convention  finally  dis- 
solved. 


NOTE. — A  number  of  clergymen  and  elders  desired  to  have  their  names  attach- 
ed to  the  memorial,  but  had  not  the  opportunity.  Others  also  were  thus  disposed 
to  add  their  signatures,  but  it  was  found  if  this  should  be  done  it  would  have  requi- 
red another  book  to  contain  the  names;  they  are  therefore  omitted. 


ACCOUNT  of  the  Financial  Committee  with  the  Pittsburgh  Convention. 
By  67  members  at  two  dollars  each  paid,        -  -  -  $134  00 

By  donations  from  individuals,  -  -  -  •  3  00 

By  sales  of  memorial  to  different  persons,       -  -  -  3  00 

Total, 
To  fifty  dollars,  on  account  of  former  expense,  paid  to 

Mr.  Symington,  -  .  -  - 

To  ten  dollars  paid  to  janitor  of  the  2nd  church, 
To  stationary  for  the  Convention, 
To  printing  600  copies  of  memorial,  and  2500  of  the 

minutes  of  the  Convention, 
To  finding  the  minutes,  -  -       ' 

Total, 

§         69J 


- 

S140  00 

$50  00 

10  00 

1  07 

65  73J 
12  50 

$139  305 

>, 

> 


^tmMfi 


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V^r^¥ 


»    ^ 


